Pradofloxacin For Feline Upper Respiratory Tract Disease

March 20, 2008

Hartmann, A. D., C. R. Helps, et al. (2008). “Efficacy of pradofloxacin in cats with feline upper respiratory tract disease due to Chlamydophila felis or Mycoplasma infections.” J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 44-52.

Two of the pathogens implicated in feline upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) are Chlamydophila felis and Mycoplasma. Typical treatment for these pathogens has been doxycycline or enrofloxacin. Both drugs are associated with adverse effects. This study investigated the efficacy of a novel fluoroquinolone, pradofloxacin, for treatment of these pathogens. In this placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, 39 cats with clinical signs of URTD were divided into 2 treatment groups. One group was treated with pradofloxacin and the other group was treated with doxycycline; both groups were treated for 42 days. Clinical scores were evaluated as response to treatment. The presence of C. felis and Mycoplasma was determined by PCR analysis of conjunctival swabs. Before treatment, C. felis was detected in 23 cats, and Mycoplasma was detected in 20 cats. Both groups of cats responded to treatment with a marked improvement in clinical signs within 1 week. Complete elimination of Mycoplasma was achieved in both groups of cats. However, while all cats receiving doxycycline eliminated C. felis, 4 cats treated with pradofloxacin remained PCR-positive.
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Related articles:
Hartmann, A., R. Krebber, et al. (2008). “Pharmacokinetics of pradofloxacin and doxycycline in serum, saliva, and tear fluid of cats after oral administration.” J Vet Pharmacol Ther 31(2): 87-94.
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Litster, A., S. Moss, et al. (2007). “Clinical efficacy and palatability of pradofloxacin 2.5% oral suspension for the treatment of bacterial lower urinary tract infections in cats.” J Vet Intern Med 21(5): 990-5.
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